All regular members of this forum will be familiar with the quality and range of Alan Cox's photographs. Alan has now produced a limited number of hardback books, with over 350 of his photograph featuring every E.R.A. over the years 1973-2010. The first batch was bought very quickly by owners, drivers and enthusiasts of these cars. There was great interest at last year's E.R.A. Club dinner - the copy earmarked for me was snapped up by a leading member of the Club!

Alan has now put one copy on eBay. The listing there gives some idea of the quality.

The E.R.A. Club website now contains a summary of the technical development of each car as well as the ownership history. This has been produced by Tim May. I would regard the site as definitive in these matters, unless proven otherwise.

While I was looking into the ERA Mini Turbo origins this morning I noticed that is was referred to as the ERA Type M.

Does anyone know if this was an official designation or is someone with an ERA Turbo being a cheeky chappy ?

In the 1980s I was the DTI official responsible for putting a lot of government money into the vehicle industry to support their R&D effort, which was considerable then. One of the characters around was a guy called David Sankey who owned and ran a small specialist IC engine technology company based in Dunstable called ERA. Don't know the full story but he also owned and raced the ex-GKN 250F Maserati 2513 (thanks, David McKinney!) which he acquired from GKN where his father was a director, a descendent of Joseph Sankey whose company invented the pressed steel 10 spoke wheel used from the pre-WW1 days.

David was and is a real enthusiast and VSCC member who wanted to make something of the ERA name that he owned so he devised a scheme to build ultra tweaked Minis (basically a modified Mini shell with an MG Metro Turbo unit shoehorned in) and badge them ERA, a very upmarket plan along the lines of John Cooper but much more so. Nearly 500 were built, the majority of which were sold to Japan and who knows how many survive. The web page I found most informative is here.

I have only just noticed this thread but ERAs have long been my favourite of all racing cars - ever since Tony Stephens charged up the bank at Sawbench hairpin at Wiscomeb in the mid 1980s (right where we were standing).

Anyway, I thought members might be interested in seeing some of my photos from the 2009 Goodwood Revival showing Ludovic Lindsay and Paddins Dowling both in (or on) ERAs.

I'm not sure who was driving R4A but no doubt someone will be along shortly to let us all know

I have to admit to being an ERA lover and have been since watching them at Snetterton in the early fifties. I will post a few shots also taken at the 2009 Goodwood revival. They are just such fabulous cars.

I have to admit to being an ERA lover and have been since watching them at Snetterton in the early fifties. I will post a few shots also taken at the 2009 Goodwood revival. They are just such fabulous cars.

Would anyone be kind enough to tell me the race number allocated to R5B at Rouen in 1964 when Jim Clark drove him in practice? I have searched diligently, including Wegeuelin, but have been unable to trace any information. I think there was a colour photo in Motorsport's review of the season that year. Sadly my copy is lost. Incidentally this picture triggered my ERA interest.

I would also be grateful to know the number of R1B (W.E. Cotton/ W.E. Wilkinson) for the 1938 Donington Grand Prix.

The reason for my interest is that I am building up a collection of 'Models of Yesteryear' ERAs which have all been repainted for specific drivers and races. The collection currently consists of fourteen cars but as the models are becoming harder to find progress is slow.

Pomeroy's photo on p57 of VSCC Bulletin No. 83 (Autumn 1964) shows the right-hand side of the Remus/R5B after the race with comp. No. 33 on the tail roundel and the bonnet side (just behind the front strap).
To remind you Clark did a 2m 48.7s lap where Lindsay's best in practice had been 2m 51s - and 2m 50s in the race which he won, containing himself with 1000 revs in hand (he claimed).

I must confess that I haven't read this thread in its entirety (I look forward to doing so...), but I would like to share these photos with you. My grandfather attended Donington in 1939 and took these shots. He has captioned it the Empire Trophy, though my rather limp investigating makes me believe it might've been the Nuffield Trophy. I'd love to throw it to the floor...

Thanks for the confirmation. I read Prince Chula's account of the Nuffield Trophy and went back to photos of Hanuman and decided it must've been mis-captioned. It did make me wonder whether Grandfather attended both big meetings that year. Sadly he'd never spoken to my dad about the meetings so these photos were a chance find in an old album. I was suitably amazed and delighted.

Few more shots of various ERAs from the 2010 Goodwood Revival. Somehow they look just right around Goodwood - more at home than any other circuit I've seen them race on. I'll have a look through the archives to see what else I can find.

Bon Jour Chevron,I see that like me you have one of Prince Chula of Siam's books on Bira.Mine covers the 1936 season and I shall attach a picture (which I think I have posted before) showing Bira and Mays in the 1936 JCC International trophy race.Kind regards,Les Dalton.

Tony LethbridgeWould anyone be kind enough to tell me the race number allocated to R5B at Rouen in 1964 when Jim Clark drove him in practice? I have searched diligently, including Wegeuelin, but have been unable to trace any information. I think there was a colour photo in Motorsport's review of the season that year. Sadly my copy is lost. Incidentally this picture triggered my ERA interest.

I would also be grateful to know the number of R1B (W.E. Cotton/ W.E. Wilkinson) for the 1938 Donington Grand Prix.

The reason for my interest is that I am building up a collection of 'Models of Yesteryear' ERAs which have all been repainted for specific drivers and races. The collection currently consists of fourteen cars but as the models are becoming harder to find progress is slow.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Tony Lethbridge

If you follow the link below it shows a phot of Raymond Mays standing between a BRM P261 and what I believe to be Remus in the Rouen paddock in '64. It confirms the race number as 33.

~The reason for my interest is that I am building up a collection of 'Models of Yesteryear' ERAs which have all been repainted for specific drivers and races. The collection currently consists of fourteen cars but as the models are becoming harder to find progress is slow.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Tony Lethbridge

Tony,

I attend swapmeets sporadically. If you let me know how much you're prepared to pay I'll keep an eye out and get 'em for you if the price is right.

The ERA in that photo is actually R9B, jonny, when it was driven by Peter Waller.

I have no more information than I posted before, and that was the photo in the VSCC Bulletin captioned "Lindsay's car after the race" carrying comp. no. 33. As Lindsay had won and the car has its cockpit full of a floral tribute I don't think Laurence Pomeroy, whose photo it was, or John Stanford, the Editor, got it wrong.The car in the link seems to have very few cues that say Peter Waller's car to me, but then what do I know? Here it is again:Tony Charnock's race report says Peter Waller (Wallez in the programme!) did not finish, suffering from fuel surge problems.

I have no more information than I posted before, and that was the photo in the VSCC Bulletin captioned "Lindsay's car after the race" carrying comp. no. 33. As Lindsay had won and the car has its cockpit full of a floral tribute I don't think Laurence Pomeroy, whose photo it was, or John Stanford, the Editor, got it wrong.The car in the link seems to have very few cues that say Peter Waller's car to me, but then what do I know? Here it is again:

That will teach me not to be dogmatic about things I know nothing about I'm sure that Allan's researches are unimpeachable, particularly as the source of the photograph is Laurence Pomeroy. The car did, however, look so pale as to be white (my excuse, m'lud). However, note that it carries circular rear-view mirrors which also appear in this splendid shot, provided by Ludovic Lindsay, of his late father with Jim Clark at the Rouen meeting. Photographer uncredited

Bon Jour Chevron,I see that like me you have one of Prince Chula of Siam's books on Bira.Mine covers the 1936 season and I shall attach a picture (which I think I have posted before) showing Bira and Mays in the 1936 JCC International trophy race.Kind regards,Les Dalton.

Hi Les. I actually have three of Chula's books and one of Bira's, though I must confess that I haven't read them yet! Too many magazine subscriptions is my excuse. I also picked up, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Prince & I which gives a charming account of society life in those times. I'm afraid being a relative young'un I'm learning all the time about these magnificent automobiles.

That will teach me not to be dogmatic about things I know nothing about I'm sure that Allan's researches are unimpeachable, particularly as the source of the photograph is Laurence Pomeroy. The car did, however, look so pale as to be white (my excuse, m'lud). However, note that it carries circular rear-view mirrors which also appear in this splendid shot, provided by Ludovic Lindsay, of his late father with Jim Clark at the Rouen meeting. Photographer uncredited

There's a photo of the car in that configuration - with the after-market mirror fitted only to the LHS of the scuttle. The photo appears to have been taken at Oulton in (I would guess) the mid -late 60s and appears in Michael Sedgwick's 'Cars in Colour' published by Batsford in 1968. The colour appears to be a much lighter blue than currently. The chassis ispale blue as well and the wheels are painted silver wires. The name 'Remus' is written in italic type c. 3 inches high in white paint along the top of the boonet.

There's a photo of the car in that configuration - with the after-market mirror fitted only to the LHS of the scuttle. The photo appears to have been taken at Oulton in (I would guess) the mid -late 60s and appears in Michael Sedgwick's 'Cars in Colour' published by Batsford in 1968. The colour appears to be a much lighter blue than currently. The chassis ispale blue as well and the wheels are painted silver wires. The name 'Remus' is written in italic type c. 3 inches high in white paint along the top of the boonet.

As I recall it, when Bill Moss drove Remus it was a paler blue than it, Romulus and the Hanumen (I and II) are now and it didn't have the yellow chassis. HonPatLin drove it in that same colour for some time, and it would have been like that at Rouen, and it would have looked very pale in a black & white photo (as it does in the VSCC one).Ah, just found that Peter Hull, writing up the ERAs in the Autumn 1959 VSCC Bulletin, wrote ". . . painted light blue with its name in white on the bonnet"

Thank you to everyone who has answered my query regarding Remus at Rouen and other ERA matters. I am now about to repaint the wheels on my model, and spent more time on ebay. Your kindness is much appreciated.

The thread starter mentioned about something happening when you turn 50 - well, it doesn't have to be as late as that !
I remember seeing Remus in action at the very first Goodwood Revival (I think) in the days when Ludovic Lindsay used to drive it (when I was just in my mid 30s), and also at the Festival of Speed a couple of times, and I was won over completely. Fantastic machine. The ERAs are great to see in action, and it always amazes me how many of the original number built are still in racing condition.

I was delighted to receive in today's post my copy of Tim May's new book "ERA Man", telling the story of the late, and much missed, Bill Morris and his involvement with ERAs and the world of historic racing. Bill had agreed some years ago that Tim should chronicle the story of ERA R12B 'Hanuman II' and his reconstruction of its brother, R12C, and although unfinished at the time of Bill's death in 2009, encouraged by Bill's widow, Victoria, Tim has now completed the story, which also covers Bill's work with other cars including R2B 'Romulus' and the E-Type, GP2. Privately published and beautifully produced and illustrated, it is entertainigly and authoritatively written by the editor of the ERA Club Newsletter and I can recommend it highly to all those who are interested in ERAs in particular and historic racing since the 1960s. For details of availability, contact David Kergon at david.kergon@btinternet.com.

I was delighted to receive in today's post my copy of Tim May's new book "ERA Man", telling the story of the late, and much missed, Bill Morris and his involvement with ERAs and the world of historic racing.

Hopefully copies on sale at VSCC Cadwell this weekend, so I can get one. Hope theres a few ERAs racing there too, at their local track.

I have the following information from David Kergon regarding availablity of the book at Cadwell, Matt. If you follow these instructions, I hope that you can get hold of your copy.

As for Cadwell, my friend Ian Hopkinson will be at the meeting and should make himself known to the VSCC office, so that should be a starting point for would-be customers. Ian is also in contact with the scrutineer Terry Rogers and he (Ian) has a box of 18 books with him in his blue VW van

The tremendous three-way scrap for second place at the 1988 April Silverstone meeting between (R-L) Bill Morris (R12B), Ludovic Lindsay (R5B) and Sir John Venables-Llewelyn (R4A). For a number of laps they were three-abreast round Woodcote before Bill Morris finally took the honours.Cadwell Park 1987. Bruce Spollon (R8C) leads Duncan Ricketts (R1B)